Atomizer



Patented Aug. 19, 1952 Anthony: r user; 1

: This invention is directed; to improvements in atomizersand has for i'ts'general obj eet the'pro vision of a digit operated atomizer- Whichis adapted-to the atomization of ak-variety of fluids ofvaryingviscositylr *Another object of the invention is the 'provision of an atomizer ofsturdy, non-corrosive cdnf struction' through-out allfloi ,it sf parts and which isadaptable for use as ame'dicinal applicator to; the nose and throat andas' a'perfume disperser. *A'still further object of my inventionis the provision of a digit operated plunger pump'mechanis m for bottle container types of atomizersfin association with fluid flow regulating mechanism so constructed as to be non-clogging and non? deterioratingafte'r having been out ofuse for ldng'periods'of'time.

j Other objects and advantages of v the inven tionf' wi11 be apparent from'the tollowing detailed description of preferred iorms of embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings "Where'in- "11 r [n Fig.- 1 I show an atomizer mechahisr'n'embodying the features of my invention as applied to a container, such as a perfume bottle; 'Fig. -2 is a' cross-sectional'view of thepump plunger-mechanism of the atomizer with "the plunger in an upward position; V #Fig; 3' is an enlarged; cross-s-ection'al view of theflu-id; flow regulating means attached to a riser tube of the atomizermechanismj Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the plunger; I 'Fig.'5- is'a perspective fragmentary view .or one-of --the elements comprising part" of the plungerpump mechanism; 7 "-Fig-;-'-6 is a detailed section showing the at ta'climent of an applicator for spraying the nose; p

--Figz '7 is a view of a similar attachment for spraying the throat.

"fMy'a-tomizer 'm'echanisr'n, when attached to a bottle neck or other fluid container, operates on the measured fluid suction principle by use of a flui'driser duct having a how regulating means associatedwith the'lower end thereof and a fibrous fluid dispersion and temporaryfiuid retaining means located at the upper end of the riserduct in association with a digit operated plunger-pump mechanism.- The discharge, con duit =cbriimunicates*with the riser 'duc'tat' a p'osition intermediate the upper andlo'wer ends of the-riser duct. -Uponan upward stroke of the pumpplunger the liquid is drawn 'upwardly' in the'zriser tube and is trapped temporarily by the dispersion medium which is located atone 2 by I end of the :pump cylinder; Upon adownward stroke ofrthe plunger =.or pistoncompressedriair is 'forced. through .the. dispersing medium.;and downw-ardlyin theu'riser duct. ancli outwardly through the-discharge duct toian atomizing ori-i fice -member. The'entirearrangement is such that all .of the parts can be made out of non corrosive metal or other suitable.base materials. In the drawings I have's-hown a head or. body member 10, preferably formed out-of metallic .bar 'stock made on a screw machine, suchas an' aluminum alloy barstocln Thishe-ad lfl is p'ro vi'dedwith a depend-ing skirt portion ll internallythreaded to fit the threads on'th'e neck ofthe container or bottle [L The head-l0 has pressed'or otherwise fixed thereon a cylinder -member !5 in which is disposed a pump plunger orpist'on- I 6 provided with a knob or finger-piece H. The piston is provided with a shoulder flBa adapted to abut internal= shoulder 15a formed onthe'cylinde'r member [Ev-adjacent the top end thereof-to -1imit its outward stroke; A-helical spring member 2l i'sdisposed within a recess formed in the pi ston l6 and rests upona partition member-20 in the form of a perforated disk or false end-wall of the cylinder, the purpos'eof the perforations 20b th ereof being to direct com pressed air effected by inward operation-bf the plunger or pi-s'ton through a; number of dispersing' points relative to a mass;of"sp 0ngemateria1 or fibrous material interposed between themechanism and the atomizer nozzle? suction release opening 41 may be formed in the r'riember I'I forpartly relievingthe suctionac-tion of the piston and decreasethe required-power ofthe spring member 2!." r I Thus the head member H1- is provided with an upper cavity which I' fill preferably with a fi'-' brous or other suitable material 22, such as fibre glass, having capillary attraction forthe fluid to 'bejdispersed. It will be seen '(in'Fig. 1') that thepartition' disk" ZUrests upon the upper perimeter'ofthe head member an and is heldinj place by the permanent fixingf of the cylindermember P5 to the head It), thus enclosing and retaining the material 22in the head cavity at one end of the pump cylinder i5.- For this material I prefer to use 'fibre glas's'sincethe same is inert to the actions of various oils; perfumes, etc.,"which it maybe desired to dispense from the'ap paratusg 1 Leadingto the cavity containing the fibrous material 122 is amain duct structure comprising a; flangedand inserted core member ZShaVing a v downwardly extendingf stem 26; into which fittedthe'upper end of a riser tube 21.- The core member may be threaded or press fitted in a 31 which may be adjusted relative to the lower port end 21a of the riser tube 21. The cap 36 is provided with radially extending inlet orifices 36a. The flow regulating means, as illustrated in Fig. 3, is in a downwardly extended non-opcrating position for the purpose of clarifying the illustration. =When adjusted, the point of the needle member 31 is in proximity to the port z 'l'a to the extent required. r 1

I iIahave. provided a simple arrangement 'for maintainingithe .plunger or. piston 1 B iinia do'wnwardlyslocatedposition, asi-showninilligi'z, which may:comprise. an iups'ettlugz2 9a; formed out ofxthe bodyfof the partition disk 20 .(see Figs.12 521K135), aindzthe extension-of theJugis:disposedtozengage ledgesrllll formed on :the bottom fiend i-of {the plur iger :or piston. The. ledges are :formed by simplyzcutting azgroove in the :bottomportion offfthescylindrioal piston and by cutting 101T :two parallel portions thereof, :as :-shown in Fig. 4. finger ,piece' or knob "i=1 has the perimeter tla thereof knurledas shown in 'Fig. -:2-whereb y the ;piston :or plunger may be turned-'whenheld in {depressed .position to, cause the upper inner surifilce-of the ledge 40 to engagethefixedlug 20a ;a nd thus-lock the piston in a depressed gposition. Alsoinfig. 2 I show a dishshaped vaperforated'disk member 23 the'shape of whichjis such-as to providea shallow cavity 24 beneath I thetfibrousmaterial 22, Thisarrangem'entrserves o-z-n nt any-d .ty:.-in r es :iof t e material immediately 'over "the upper duct'end.

The operation of the mechanism is-as" follows. The g fluid ,fflow' regulating *meanscomprising members, 36 arefirstadjustedtopredetermine the .amount ofopening :of the; port 21a -i n accordance with --the viscosity of the :fluid ?within the ,-.container42 yto -be dispensed. It" hardly need be stated that iorvheavier fiuids, Sllchms medie ated oils-applicable ftonose or throat, ,-port\2/1a will be adjusted to vhave greater :passage than forthinner, fluids, such as alcohol solvent ,perfumes. I When the plunger-is unlocked spring 2| forces the plunger-or-piston outwardly.

The entire apparatus, including; the container or bottle, -may be held in one fhandrand "the plunger-and piston operatedwith a-finger. upward stroke of the vpiston:causes the efluid iinthecontainer tobe drawnthrough-therorifiees 36a upwardlyalong ,the --valve needle I31 and duced "into-the cavity containing the fibrous I through .port 21c and up the riser tube-land I fluid in the container or bottle. apparatus will operate without any air-tight seal between the stopper portion II and the top sur- :fa'cexnf :the bottl neck. I have, however, made -provision-for:anypossible accumulation of compressedair in the container'or bottle above the level of the fluid therein by having the flanged material 22 at a number of points. This compressed air travels through the fibrous material and picks up the partially dispersed fluid and carries it downwardly in the riser duct and then outwardly through the discharge duct 30 and through the orifice of the atomizing nipple 3 I.

While this described cycle of operation appears to be a seeming contradiction, nevertheless, Thave found thatvery little,;if any, air is forced all the way dowdthroughthe bottom or intake end of the riser duct system and into the In fact, the

portion L2 5a of the core structure 25 spaced from th under wall surface of the body l0, and I provide a vbleeder duct 25b, in the flange which establishes communication -.-between the -interior of the-bottle and the exterior-threadedsurface of the bottle neck wherebyany compressed air which might have a tendency -,=to-accumulate-in the .top portion of .the bottle can -,escape-,-al ong the threaded engaging --surfaees=-of the stopper portion H and thethreadedbottleneck.'This arrangement is particularly desirable should a sealing washer 55 be used between-the flange 25a and thetopsurface of the bottlerneck when it is desired toicarry the-atomizer :in a traveling bag.

TheIatomizin-g n'ipple 1.31, shown vin :1 the drawings, is adaptable for the dispensing of perfume. When it is desiredto utilizesthe-apparatus as a nose spray,'for examplegtherslipfitting nipple member3l ,mayberemovedrand a nose applicator ,attached,- as shown ,in;-Eig. .6. Withilike facility ,I may attacha throat applicator 50, as .shown .in Fig.1

Should it -be desiredlto pack .jthe apparatussin a travelingbag,.aireSilient packing :orwasher couldlbe attached to:the.urider:sidaoflthe locking flange' lflc of .the plunger and the spacings-of the perforations .Zllb relative thereto may be such that the ..plunger. could Zbejlocked in isealedrelation to the top suitfaceio'f'the partition dis .20 to thereby .seal .the perforations. l'l hes tructure of the diskl'ffl;and-locking.lugL20b wouldbepsuch as to beleakeproof .underfitherabove stated con. dition. 7

It will "beseenlthat no :res'ilient washers enter into the .proper .iunctioning 59f the apparatus -.-I

have "herein disclosed ilI'hei-sliding fit relation between the.circumferential surface oi the-c311 inder [5 and'.the.piston. vl'ltmay-becomparatively loosefoflhave found that by the use of a piston displacement such. as .is available ,in-,the proportioning disclosed the overall displacementof air is ample ,to. prevent inefficient. suctione action sin so far. as pumpefiiciency is-coneernedgbut yet-is sufiicient .LtO ifforce-.compressed Fair :through the fibrous materialfi'z and lcauseethe air while fluid burdened, to Lbe Z'forced Zin'to rthegregion -of the risermdue't .andloutwardly throughtheurestricted discharge .tubel3'fl.

1T0. those skilled in the-artd-t will beunderstood that "the .cross-sectional-area -'of the riservduet, the. dischargesductand'the orificerofL-theatomizer nozzle .are .coordinated as eto; size: for; the :results sought. Also, it-willbe-apparent thaazafter use. the fluid-temporarily etrapped' inatherfibrous will .idrain downwardly ithrou h theirisertduct and backinto the bottle.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An atomizer of the bottle attachable type comprising a body structure the lower part of which comprises attaching means for the neck of a bottle the fluid content of which is to be atomizingly dispensed, and the upper part of which comprises a vertical cylinder, a disk formed of a temporary fluid retaining medium at the bottom end of said cylinder, a perforated metal disk provided with a compression spring locating formation, said disk being peripherally supported by the body structure above said fluid retaining medium, a digit operated piston extending out of the top of said cylinder, a compression spring disposed between said piston and said metal disk, said compression spring locating formation serving to position said spring, a liquid riser tube depending from said body structure and opening upwardly to said fluid retaining medium, said body structure being provided with a lateral atomizer outlet in communication with the passageway of said riser tube.

2. An atomizer of the character described in claim- 1, in which said liquid riser tube is attached to the said body structure by means of a circum- 6 ferentially flanged insert held in a central bore provided in the said body structure, said insert having channels opening from said riser tube to said fluid retaining medium and to said lateral outlet, and the flange of said insert being adapted to serve as a closure for a bottle mouth.

ANTHONY G. TUCCI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 460,458 Bates Sept. 29, 1891 1,987,756 Smith Jan. 15, 1935 2,310,319 Rose Feb. 9, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 80,566 Germany Apr. 9, 1895 322,927 Great Britain Dec. 19, 1929 695,540 France Dec. 17, 1930 820,923 France Nov. 22, 1937 

